New York, New York

It's thanks to his family that Wilmar Guarnizo got into coffee farming in the first place. When Wilmar inherited Finca La Vega from his father in 2002, there wasn't a coffee tree in sight. But Wilmar's brothers had experience and success growing coffee, so he decided to follow their lead and plant some trees of his own. Since then, Wilmar has become an expert producer of top-notch coffee. These beans, roasted by family-run Joe, make a brew that's anything but familiar – cranberry and apple acidity cuddles up under a silky body with flavors of cashew and golden delicious for a velvety smooth cup that, like any good family gathering, leaves you comforted and restored.

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Our Notes

Portland, Oregon

Direct trade doesn't just mean better coffee. It means a better life for independent farmers. Under the mixed-batch system, David Mancia, who only produces 25 bags of his premium coffee, would get lost in the mix. Thankfully, Coava Coffee Roasters has given David's beans a chance to shine on their own. Their direct-trade partnership has helped David expand his farm, produce higher quality coffee, and, best of all, buy the home he shares with his family. It's also delivered into your hands a cup as decadent as stone-fruit cobbler – a warm base of buttery crust opens into a brightness of lemon and nectarine, perfect after a good long meal. Here's to you, David.

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Our Notes

Denver, Colorado

Long revered as the birthplace of coffee itself, Ethiopia is world-renowned for its heirloom coffee varieties. But as Joseph Brodsky can tell you, getting a cup of the good stuff isn't so easy. Poor processing, storage, or transportation can ruin a nuanced flavor. That's why Joseph founded Ninety Plus, who brings you this gem of a bean. Ninety Plus has helped Ethiopian farmers develop the techniques necessary to harvest their delicate and ancient crop. And man alive does it make for a good cup of joe. A vibrant floral aroma seduces up front while notes of jasmine accent a delicate body dusted with cocoa – an ancient statue of a coffee, worth the time to study.